When you are scrolling through the app store trying to find your next download, what is the first thing that most people look at? What do most people look at to determine if it’s even worth tapping on the app to learn more about it?
The answer to both questions is the App Icon. We’ve all heard the famous quote, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”. Unfortunately, this doesn’t translate well in the app store. If the icon isn’t appealing, it’s usually a sign that the app itself won’t be either.
Your app icon is the first visual tease that your audience will use to help them decide if they should take a closer look. You may have built a flawless app that will be beneficial to a large crowd; without an appealing image to portray it, you have automatically reduced your potential customer count.
So how does one create an appealing icon?
The creation of an app icon should be an iterative process, especially for the initial release! When you’re first starting out and your app doesn’t have much publicity, the last thing you need is give someone an easy reason to pass on your app.
This process should consist of multiple revisions of your icon, updating it each time based on customer feedback, until you are satisfied with the majority of the responses (there is always going to be at least one critic out there!).
Before committing 100% on the app icon that you think should be seen in the app store, it’s essential that you make sure it resonates well with your audience.
How do I get customer feedback?
Allow me to walk you through my experience with a tangible example. Being that “Get Sum!!” is the first app I have released, I did not reach the final version of my app icon without making many mistakes along the way.
I was lucky enough to stumble upon a website called UsabilityHub. This is a great site that offers a few different tools that are used to gather information about your customers interaction. I decided to take advantage of their “5-Second Test” feature.
The purpose of this test is fairly self-explanatory. When someone starts the survey, the image (app icon) is displayed on the screen for only 5 seconds. This is similar to the amount of time that the average user takes to determine if your app is worth checking out.
After the 5 seconds are up, they will be re-directed to your survey where they will answer questions (that you set) about what they saw.
But how do I ensure I get unbiased feedback?
This is where I took to Reddit, specifically the subreddit sample size. People who take your survey here have no idea who you are, and have no reason to go easy on you unlike your friends/family might!
My main focus for this survey was immediate thought on appearance. I wanted to get a feel for whether or not my icon is inviting; so, I asked the question:
“Assuming you were interested in the genre of app, would you download this app based on the icon? (Yes / No)”
Response summary for each version:
Version 1 (21 responses):
# of respondents that said “Yes”: 0 (surprising I know…)
Updates Made:
Removed text
Included numbers with intent to show it is a math game
Kept image of card backs with intent to show it is a matching game
Version 2 (24 responses):
# of respondents that said “Yes”: 6 (Getting better!)
Updates Made:
Removed shading. Unnecessary element that was non-value add.
Removed card backs. The app icon is small enough as it is, without prior knowledge of the game, users have no clue what those images are supposed to be.
Made each quadrant its own number with fun colors from the game itself. Added a “+” sign in the middle of the icon to show it is math related.
Version 3 (26 responses):
# of respondents that said “Yes”: 24 (I’m happy with it!)
Key Takeaways:
Keep it simple!! This final product is clean, to the point, and is evident it is for a game.
TL;DR
#1 – App Icons are Vital to an App’s Success
Remember, those seeing your app icon in the store know absolutely nothing about your app at this point. All they have to go off of is the small image. As the developer who knows the ins and outs of the app, it is easy to forget to look at the icon through the eyes of someone who knows nothing about it.
#2 – Get Public Reviews from Your Audience
This is by far the most important rule to follow. Creating an app icon should be an iterative process and should be bounced off public eyes as many times as needed until you feel confident it gets your apps message across.
#3 – Key Resources to use for Assistance
UsabilityHub – Free survey creation site
5-Second Test – A useful feature offered by UsabilityHub to simulate users first impression
sample size – Subreddit used to obtain survey takers that will give unbiased feedback.
If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter or Facebook. Thank you!
Check out my app “Get Sum!!” app for free here.
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Email: GetSumGaming@outlook.com
Patrick Horton
GetSumGaming
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